Audrey Faye Varnadore, age 87, of Alma, Georgia, peacefully passed away Thursday, August 13, 2026, at Courtyard Gardens in Jupiter, Florida.

She was born June 11, 1939, in Alma, Georgia, to the late Curtis Carter and Lillian Hyers Carter. In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her husband, Rev. Robert E. Varnadore; her daughter, Angela Varnadore Stubbs.

Audrey’s faith was at the center of her life. As the devoted wife of Rev. Robert Eugene Varnadore, her high school sweetheart and husband of 60 years, she spent much of her life working alongside him in ministry. Together, they served churches throughout Georgia, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida, building lifelong friendships wherever their ministry took them.

The churches they served included Booth Congregational Methodist Church in Manor, Georgia; Congregational Methodist Church in Gulfport, Mississippi; Macedonia Church of God in Denton, Georgia; Union Grove Church of God in Tifton, Georgia; Houston Road Church of God in Warner Robins, Georgia; Eighth Avenue Church of God in Albany, Georgia; Blackshear Church of God in Blackshear, Georgia; Crichton Church of God in Mobile, Alabama; Bethany Temple Church of God in Tarpon Springs, Florida; Bainbridge Church of God in Bainbridge, Georgia; and Harvest Temple Church of God in Albany, Georgia.

Although Robert officially retired from full time ministry in 2000, retirement did little to slow their calling to serve. For the next 20 years, Robert continued serving churches as an interim pastor, with Audrey faithfully by his side and continuing to share her gifts wherever they were called. Their final eight years of ministry were spent at New Hope Southern Congregational Methodist Church.

Audrey had a ministry all her own. At each church they served, she shared her remarkable gift and love of music, serving through the years as music director, pianist, organist and choir leader. Her musical ministry extended beyond the local church as she served for many years on the State Music Committee for the Church of God, helping organize and coordinate music for State Camp meetings.

Music was woven throughout Audrey’s life. While her primary focus was her family and working alongside Robert in ministry, she taught private piano lessons to hundreds of children and adults over the years, sharing not only her knowledge of music but also her encouragement and love for her students. She also shared her talents with the community by playing piano for community theater productions. And despite teaching hundreds of students through the years, Audrey would jokingly say that her most difficult students were her own three children.

Audrey also possessed the true gift of Southern hospitality. She loved cooking and entertaining, and she was an exceptional cook. Her home was a place where family and friends were welcomed, fed, and loved. Gathering people around her table was simply another way Audrey cared for others.

She also knew exactly what she liked. Even in her later years, when her appetite began to fade, she could still find room for a few favorites: tacos, corndogs and, of course, ice cream.

Audrey will be remembered by so many for her beautiful smile and her extraordinary heart for people. She had a natural gift for caring for others and a way of making people feel welcomed, important and loved.

But of all the roles Audrey filled throughout her life, none meant more to her than being Mom and Nana. Her family never had to wonder where they stood in her life. They came first, always. She loved her children fiercely, completely and without condition, and when grandchildren came along, somehow that love grew even greater.

Her grandchildren and great-grandchildren were among the greatest joys of her life. Nothing could light up Audrey’s face quite like seeing one of them walk into the room. They were her life, and the love between Nana and her grandchildren was unmistakable. They adored her, and she adored them.

Audrey taught her family so much, not simply through the things she said, but through the way she lived. She showed them how to live fully, laugh often, love fiercely and, most importantly, walk every day with Jesus.

Her faith wasn’t something Audrey simply talked about. She lived it. The light of Jesus shone brightly through her life in the way she welcomed people, cared for them, served them and loved them. That light will continue through the family she loved so dearly and through the countless lives she touched.

Survivors include her son, Robert C. Varnadore (Pam Varnadore); daughter, Carla Moore (Gary Moore); grandchildren, Joshua Varnadore (Ashley Varnadore), Lauren Varnadore Bruhns (Stefan Bruhns), Erica Moore Herron (Nick Herron), William Moore (Sara Moore), and Thomas Cloud; great-grandchildren, Judah Varnadore, Jonah Varnadore, Justus Varnadore, Lillian Herron, Jack Herron, Leo Bruhns, and Max Bruhns; cousins, Chery McKinnon, George Stokes (Patti), and Terry Stokes; and many other family members and dear friends who were blessed to know and love her.

Funeral services will be held Tuesday August 18, 2026, in the chapel of Crosby Funeral Home at 2:30 PM with Rev. David Deen officiating. Interment will follow at Rose Hill Cemetery. The family will be receiving friends at the funeral home from 2 PM until service time.

Active pallbearers include Will Moore, Thomas Cloud, Thomas Stubbs, Nick Herron, Hunter Williams and Ron Williams. All in attendance will be considered honorary pallbearers.